It's official.
The Catholic Knight is retired. I'm hanging up the helmet and passing the torch. There will be no more articles, no more commentaries, no more calls to action.
THIS BLOG IS CLOSED.
I've spent a very long time thinking about this, I believe the time has come, and is a bit overdue. I want to thank my readers for everything, but most especially for your encouragement and your willingness to go out there and fight the good fight.
So, that being the case, I've spend the last several weeks looking for bloggers who are fairly active, and best represent something akin to the way I think and what I believe. I recommend the following blogs for my readers to bookmark and check on regularly. Pick one as your favourite, or pick them all. They are all great.....

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

(SperoNews) - One of the interesting discussions following the wake of this year’s political campaign has been about Catholics and socialism. Is it OK to be a Catholic socialist? (Wonder what sparked this line of thought?)

Despite Pope Pius XI saying, back in the 1930s, that “No one can be at the same time a sincere Catholic and a true Socialist”, some Catholics want to argue the point. They claim the “Christian socialism” described in Acts, in which “All those who had believed were together, and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions, and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need,” is the inspiration for the “scientific socialism” espoused by Marx and Engels. After all, Marx and Engels say it is.

Well, of course Marx and Engels say their inspiration for the socialist ideal was early Christianity. It gives their theories authority and respectability. As Saul Alinsky drily exhorts young radicals, “… you do what you can with what you have and clothe it with moral garments.” [Rules for Radicals] Marx and Engels are simply clothing socialism with Christianity, the wolf in a sheepskin...

THE CATHOLIC KNIGHT: ...You know what? They may be right. Some Americans have been predicting it a lot longer than the Russians have...

(Drudge) - ...When asked when the U.S. economy would collapse, Panarin said: "It is already collapsing. Due to the financial crisis, three of the largest and oldest five banks on Wall Street have already ceased to exist, and two are barely surviving. Their losses are the biggest in history. Now what we will see is a change in the regulatory system on a global financial scale: America will no longer be the world's financial regulator."

When asked who would replace the U.S. in regulating world markets, he said: "Two countries could assume this role: China, with its vast reserves, and Russia, which could play the role of a regulator in Eurasia."

Asked why he expected the U.S. to break up into separate parts, he said: "A whole range of reasons. Firstly, the financial problems in the U.S. will get worse. Millions of citizens there have lost their savings. Prices and unemployment are on the rise. General Motors and Ford are on the verge of collapse, and this means that whole cities will be left without work. Governors are already insistently demanding money from the federal center. Dissatisfaction is growing, and at the moment it is only being held back by the elections and the hope that Obama can work miracles. But by spring, it will be clear that there are no miracles."

He also cited the "vulnerable political setup", "lack of unified national laws", and "divisions among the elite, which have become clear in these crisis conditions."

He predicted that the U.S. will break up into six parts - the Pacific coast, with its growing Chinese population; the South, with its Hispanics; Texas, where independence movements are on the rise; the Atlantic coast, with its distinct and separate mentality; five of the poorer central states with their large Native American populations; and the northern states, where the influence from Canada is strong....

Monday, November 24, 2008

THE CATHOLIC KNIGHT: Followers of this blog know well that 'The Catholic Knight' has never been a huge fan of Congressman Ron Paul. In fact, this time last year I was quite critical of him, and his supporters. My reasons for this are explained in the archives of this blog, but that is not the point. 'The Catholic Knight' also tries to give credit where credit is due. When a man is right, he is right, and in spite of my differences with him, I will attempt to give him credit for being right.

In March of this year, Ron Paul addressed the Congress during a budget debate, in which he predicted the financial and economic collapse that has just come upon us last month. During this address, he pointed out some very important issues, which I believe it is incumbent upon every Catholic to listen to and pay close attention. Why? Because what Congressman Paul is saying goes right in line with the most important rule of Catholic Social Justice - Subsidiarity...

1883 Socialization also presents dangers. Excessive intervention by the state can threaten personal freedom and initiative. The teaching of the Church has elaborated the principle of subsidiarity, according to which "a community of a higher order should not interfere in the internal life of a community of a lower order, depriving the latter of its functions, but rather should support it in case of need and help to co- ordinate its activity with the activities of the rest of society, always with a view to the common good."

-- Catechism of the Catholic Church

Enjoy the video...

Can America be saved from a national demise that seems to be inevitable? Yes! It is possible, but it will require some sacrifice and restructuring that Americans are not currently accustomed to. As Congressman Paul says, all we need to do is return to the U.S. Constitution as our guide. We must seriously restrict the role of the federal government, and return administration of virtually all domestic programs back to the states. Then we must change our foreign policy to a position of armed neutrality, bring our troops home (when it is safe), and get out of the "world police" business.

(Catholica) - The major Catholic Church reform organisations in the United States are in the process of organising a large scale, joint meeting in 2011 tentatively titled an "American Catholic Council". Catholica is aware discussions have been underway between leaders of the largest reform organisations such as Call to Action (CtA), Voice of the Faithful (VoTF), and the Association for the Rights of Catholics in the Church (ARCC) and leaders of a number of other major lay organisations have also been involved in the discussions and are at various stages of consulting their wider memberships. Combined these organisations have tens of thousands of members. The scale of this initiative is of particular interest as it could well be the largest lay-generated reform initiative that has ever occurred anywhere in the world. The development might suggest that the continued attrition in Church membership is now cutting into sectors of the population who are no longer prepare to leave the Church without voicing their criticisms of where the ecclesial leaders have been taking Catholicism....

Friday, November 21, 2008

THE CATHOLIC KNIGHT: In what is sure to become one of many sweeping changes to the Novus Ordo mass, the pope is contemplating the possibility of moving the sign of the peace to an earlier place in the mass, so as not to interrupt the Liturgy of the Eucharist, thus restoring some solemnity to the moment...

(AP) - Under the change, the sign of peace, which now takes place moments before the reception of communion, would come earlier. Arinze said the change might help create a more solemn atmosphere as the faithful are preparing to receive communion....

If approved, this change would make the new and reformed Novus Ordo strikingly different than the "defective" liturgy the American Church has been celebrating since the 1970's. Already, the Vatican and USCCB have approved a new English translation of the liturgy, which is more in sync with the original Latin text. This is to go into effect in the United States sometime in 2010.

The days of the "hootenanny mass" are soon coming to an end. That's not to say that liturgical abuse and innovation won't still happen, because so long as their are priests who don't value tradition, they will continue. However, what we have in these liturgical reforms is a new Novus Order, that more closely resembles the old Tridentine, which makes liturgical abuse and innovations just a little bit harder to do. When the new English translation hits the U.S. Catholic Church, combined with the kind of liturgical reforms mentioned in the story above, American Catholics will for the first time in an entire generation, be introduced to a liturgy that accurately reflects the real intentions behind the Novus Ordo mass issued by Rome over 30 years ago. I'm sure it will be something totally foreign to most American Catholics. I suspect that by 2010, many American Catholics will be scratching their heads and wondering what all this new beautiful liturgy is about.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

(Time) - The Pope's top aides may have already informed Benedict about a campaign promise Obama made on July 17, 2007, to Planned Parenthood, stating that his first act as President would be to sign the Freedom of Choice Act, which would undo legislation that put restrictions on access to abortions. Some Catholics have warned that such a decree, which would essentially codify Roe v. Wade into federal law, could force doctors in Catholic hospitals to perform abortions against their conscience. "There's more fear here than wrath," a senior Vatican official told TIME with regard to the Catholic hierarchy's attitude toward Obama. However, if Obama signs the Freedom of Choice Act in his first months in office, "it would be the equivalent of a war," says the same official. "It would be like saying, 'We've heard the Catholic Church and we have no interest in their concerns.' " U.S. Catholic bishops at a meeting in Baltimore last week vowed to take on Obama for his support of abortion rights; they are also skeptical about his assurances to try to reduce the number of abortions while supporting the right to choose....

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

THE CATHOLIC KNIGHT: The old designation of "Liberalism" can no longer apply to this post-Obama political age. The truth is, the Democrats haven't advocated Liberalism in a long time. Today, their party can best be described as "Collectivist," wherein the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one, and the collective community is far more important than the individual.

Collectivism is a term used to describe any moral, political, or social outlook, that stresses human interdependence and the importance of a collective, rather than the importance of separate individuals. Collectivists focus on community and society, and seek to give priority to group goals over individual goals. The philosophical underpinnings of collectivism are for some related to holism or organicism - the view that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts/pieces. Specifically, a society as a whole can be seen as having more meaning or value than the separate individuals that make up that society. Collectivism is widely seen as being opposed to individualism. Notably these views are sometimes combined in systems.

So from now on 'The Catholic Knight' will no longer refer to the Democrats, and those who support them, as Liberals. The term "Collectivist" is far more descriptive and accurate. So from now on, that is what I'll use.

For the record, the Catholic Church does have an official position on Collectivism. As the form of governance advocated by the Catholic Church is called "subsidiarity," and it directly opposes collectivism.....

1883 Socialization also presents dangers. Excessive intervention by the state can threaten personal freedom and initiative. The teaching of the Church has elaborated the principle of subsidiarity, according to which "a community of a higher order should not interfere in the internal life of a community of a lower order, depriving the latter of its functions, but rather should support it in case of need and help to co-ordinate its activity with the activities of the rest of society, always with a view to the common good."

1885 The principle of subsidiarity is opposed to all forms of collectivism. It sets limits for state intervention. It aims at harmonizing the relationships between individuals and societies. It tends toward the establishment of true international order.

2425 The Church has rejected the totalitarian and atheistic ideologies associated in modem times with "communism" or "socialism." She has likewise refused to accept, in the practice of "capitalism," individualism and the absolute primacy of the law of the marketplace over human labor. Regulating the economy solely by centralized planning perverts the basis of social bonds; regulating it solely by the law of the marketplace fails social justice, for "there are many human needs which cannot be satisfied by the market." Reasonable regulation of the marketplace and economic initiatives, in keeping with a just hierarchy of values and a view to the common good, is to be commended.

Monday, November 17, 2008

THE CATHOLIC KNIGHT: Want to know the secret for increasing the power and influence of the Roman Catholic Church in U.S. politics? It would effectively give the U.S. Catholic Church more say than it's ever had in the American political system, and it would effectively change the landscape of U.S. politics forever. It's very simple really. All you have to do is revoke the tax exemption status of the U.S. Catholic Church.

You see the 501(c)(3) rules concerning tax exemption of churches and charitable organizations prohibit such organizations from engaging in partisan politics, wherein particular candidates are endorsed or opposed. So the 501(c)(3) tax exempt status of the Catholic Church effectively keeps a muzzle on it, prohibiting the clergy from speaking freely about political candidates during an election. Failure to keep quiet about individual candidates could result in revocation of 501(c)(3) status by the IRS, which could also result in having to pay back-taxes. This effectively frightens most clergy from endorsing or opposing political candidates by name, for fear that loss of the 501(c)(3) status might harm the Church's charitable activities and possibly cause the church to sell property in order to pay back-taxes. So far, it's been a pretty effective tool at keeping the Catholic Church (and most other churches) out of direct political involvement in partisan campaigns.

Now, for years some Leftist Liberal political movements have opposed all religious involvement in U.S. politics entirely, citing the "separation of church and state" as their rationale. We could talk about their flawed understanding of this concept all we want, but that's not the point of this blog entry. Rather, I would like to point out two things. The first is that their proposed solution, (revoking tax exemption of churches), will actually have the effect of increasing religious involvement in politics. The second is that as an advocate for more church involvement in politics, I'm beginning to think their proposed solution isn't such a bad idea.

Let's examine what the probable outcome of such an event might be. Suppose a lawsuit were filed in federal court not only against a particular Catholic parish or diocese, but the entire U.S. Catholic Church. Suppose that lawsuit sought to revoke the 501(c)(3) tax exempt status of the U.S. Catholic Church. Now suppose the federal judge presiding over the case ruled against the Catholic Church, and the appeals court upheld it. Now the U.S. Catholic Church is no longer a tax exempt body. What would happen?

THE HEADLINESImmediately the events of this case would make front page news in every major publication throughout the nation and abroad. It would be the talk of every major news outlet on television and radio for at least a few nights, if not longer. Catholic bishops would then draw up a statement explaining to the Catholic faithful that their contributions to their local parish and diocese will no longer be tax deductible.

THE REACTIONCatholics throughout the United States would be irate! Initially some anger might be directed toward the Church itself, but after consideration of the fact that the priests and bishops must be loyal to their faith before the tax code, anger would immediately be redirected toward the United States government and in particular the Left-wing Liberal institutions and organizations that brought this about. Even non-practicing Catholics would be angry, as rumors of discrimination swept the nation. Typically, many Liberal Protestant churches regularly endorse and promote Liberal candidates for public office. The IRS rarely ever investigates them, let alone revokes their tax exempt status. Liberal institutions and organizations would be linked to the IRS in the collective Catholic psyche. The two would become inseparable in the Catholic mindset. This IRS-Liberal connection would be permanently linked to institutionalized anti-Catholicism by the United States government. At least, that's how most Catholics would start to see it. Protests would erupt in the streets, and the anger of U.S. Catholics would be palpable. This of course would generate more news for the media - keeping the topic alive and well on the front pages of newspapers and the major talk of television and radio news.

THE BACKLASHAfter the bishops of the U.S. Catholic Church decide which properties need to be sold to pay the IRS the back-taxes it owes, the bishops would then begin to draft a counter offensive. Free of the 501(c)(3) muzzle, the priests and bishops of the U.S. Catholic Church would now be at liberty to endorse and oppose political candidates BY NAME, without fear of legal reprisals. The bishops would then begin drafting voter guides for every Catholic diocese throughout the United States. Certain candidates would be endorsed (by name) based on the Church's Pro-Life and Pro-Family teachings, while other candidates would be opposed (by name). Catholic parishes would also be free to campaign for certain political candidates (by name). In time, the Catholic vote would become a solid voting block and a political force to be reckoned with. Other churches could now turn to the Catholics for political advice in every election. For example; pastor so-and-so of the 1st. Evangelical Church down the street, could simply tell his congregation that the Catholics have a good voting ethic and his congregation should imitate them. This could be done without pastor so-and-so having to worry about his 501(c)(3) status being revoked because he didn't actually mention any political candidate by name. Meanwhile, as his congregation drives home from church services that Sunday, and they see the yard signs endorsing certain candidates (by name) on the local Catholic church's lawn, they'll know who to vote for. The U.S. Catholic Church will not only become the nation's largest voting block, but it will effectively spearhead a coalition voting block of many churches in the United States. In a very short time, no political candidate in America will be able to get elected until he first receives the blessing of the local Catholic bishop. All U.S. Senatorial candidates will seek the blessing of all Catholic bishops in a particular state, and all U.S. Presidential candidates will seek the blessing of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (U.S.C.C.B.). Candidates and parties will alter their platforms to better conform to the precepts of Catholic Social Justice - especially on matters related to abortion, stem-cell research, homosexuality, gay-marriage and school-choice. In effect, the U.S. Catholic Church will become the most powerful entity in American politics.

CONCLUSIONSo that is why 'The Catholic Knight' welcomes attempts by Leftist Liberal organizations to revoke the 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status of Catholic parishes, diocese, and the U.S. Catholic Church in total. I believe that in the long run it would actually benefit the Church, and effectively empower it, to radically alter American politics forever, and for the better. So to these Leftist Liberal organizations who want to revoke the tax-exempt status of the Catholic Church, I say "bring it on!"

Thursday, November 13, 2008

THE CATHOLIC KNIGHT: Well, actually it's worse than that. If he were planning to simply reinstate a military draft, that would be one thing. But what he's actually planning is much more intrusive. Below are some recorded interviews with Obama's first appointment - the new Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. Based On these interviews, and Obama's own words, it would appear that every U.S. citizen (male and female) between the ages of 18 and 25 will be inducted into a civilian service core, and it will be compulsory....

(WorldNetDaily) – Because it has abandoned moral absolutes and its historic Christian faith, the U.S. is moving closer to a Nazi-style totalitarianism, warns a former German member of the Hitler Youth in a new book.

"Every day brings this nation closer to a Nazi-style totalitarian abyss," writes Hilmar von Campe, now a U.S. citizen, and author of "Defeating the Totalitarian Lie: A Former Hitler Youth Warns America."

Von Campe has founded the national Institute for Truth and Freedom to fight for a return to constitutional government in the U.S. – a key, he believes, to keeping America free.

"I lived the Nazi nightmare, and, as the old saying goes, 'A man with an experience is never at the mercy of a man with an argument,'" writes von Campe. "Everything I write is based on my personal experience in Nazi Germany. There is nothing theoretical about my description of what happens when a nation throws God out of government and society, and Christians become religious bystanders. I don't want to see a repetition. The role of God in human society is the decisive issue for this generation. My writing is part of my life of restitution for the crimes of a godless government, of the evil of which I was a part.....

THE CATHOLIC KNIGHT: Isn't it interesting how the advocates of "tolerance" tend to be those least tolerant of anyone who would dare oppose their point of view? Such is the case with the militant homosexual lobby in California, who's "tolerance" has been on display ever since they lost their bid for Gay-Marriage in a statewide referendum. First their vile hatred was spewed against Christians exclusively, now it had spread to California's black community...

(LifeSiteNews.com) – Amid the rampant homosexualist protests in California, following the victory of Proposition 8, reports are pouring into homosexual blogs of same-sex "marriage" supporters directing their bile against the African-American community, aiming racist and threatening remarks even against blacks who are themselves homosexual.

One reader of Rod 2.0, a leading gay blog by an African-American, reported that when he joined the large homosexual protest outside Westwood's Mormon Temple, protesters called him a "nigger" at least twice.

"It was like being at a klan rally except the klansmen were wearing Abercrombie polos and Birkenstocks," wrote the commenter...

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

THE CATHOLIC KNIGHT: No, it's not an old style Tridentine mass (Extraordinary form). Rather, the following is a video of a Latin mass done in the ORDINARY FORM according to the post Vatican II era. It's the exact same mass done every Sunday around the world by the overwhelming majority of Catholics. The only difference is that it's done with the proper reverence the bishops of Vatican II intended, and it happens to be in Latin. Special thanks to 'Our Lady of Atonement Catholic Church' in San Antonio Texas, for providing this video. 'Our Lady of Atonement' is an Anglican Use Catholic Church, which means that most of these people are former Episcopalians who converted to Catholicism. Leave it to former Protestants to show Catholics how to do a mass right.....

(NCR) - “No retreat, no surrender” is perhaps the best way to sum up the spirit of the U.S. bishops’ discussion of abortion and politics this afternoon, though the bishops stopped short of adopting any new policy on the denial of communion to pro-choice Catholic politicians.

Meeting in Baltimore, the bishops embraced a full frontal challenge with regard to the abortion policies of the incoming Obama administration, especially its support of the “Freedom of Choice Act” (FOCA), which would undo existing restrictions on abortion at the state and federal levels, and which, according to some interpretations, could actually penalize hospitals that do not provide abortion services.

Several bishops said that the church should not merely oppose FOCA, but actively work against its implementation should it become law. Several stressed the need to request freedom of conscience provisions for Catholic health care providers and facilities – and, in a worst-case scenario, warned that the church must be prepared to shut down its hospitals rather than provide abortions, or turn them over to other providers who would.

The bishops voted to authorize Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, as president of the bishops’ conference, to issue a "strong" and "prophetic" statement on “the present political situation,” and they offered George talking points for that statement....

(Times Online) - The Vatican has fired a warning shot over the bows of Barack Obama in response to the President-elect's intention to lift the US ban on embryonic stem cell research.

Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan of Mexico, who acts as the Vatican health minister, said that stem cells taken from human embryos and involving the destruction of the embryos "serve no purpose".

Asked whether the Vatican was concerned about reports that Mr Obama might reverse the Bush Administration's ban, the cardinal said that embryonic stem cell research had not resulted in any significant health cure so far and was "good for nothing"....

THE CATHOLIC KNIGHT: So here we have yet another example of "love" and "tolerance" from the homosexual community toward Christians. It's nice to know that these people are so "tolerant" of Christians and our religion. Expect the following to be coming soon to a Catholic parish near you....

(LifeSiteNews.com) - On Sunday, November 9, a band of about 30 homosexuals stormed a church in Lansing, Michigan. Some were well dressed and were stationed inside Mount Hope Church, where they pretended to be normal Sunday worshippers; others were outside dressed in pink and black.

The group of self-described homosexual anarchists, Bash Back!, claims the evangelical church is guilty of “transphobia and homophobia.” The group says that it fights for "liberation," opposes "all forms of state power," and urges members not to condemn certain methods of promoting their cause "on the grounds that the State deems it to be illegal."

During the service the protesters outside the church were beating on buckets, shouting “Jesus was a homo” on a megaphone and carrying an upside-down pink cross. They distributed fliers to passersby.

When the signal was given the protesters inside the church rose from their seats and began loudly to disrupt the service. The fire alarm was pulled inside the church, protesters stormed the pulpit and a huge rainbow-colored flag was unfurled with the inscription, “IT’S OKAY TO BE GAY! BASH BACK!”

The church was vandalized, obscenities were shouted and worshippers were confronted. According to Right Michigan the protestors in their demonstration also used condoms, glitter, confetti, and pink fabric. A video camera wielded by the homosexualists attempted to capture violent reactions from members of the congregation, of which there were none. Right Michigan also reports that approximately an hour after the demonstration two of the demonstrators were found by security in a public restroom in the church together. There were no arrests....

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

THE CATHOLIC KNIGHT: Of course, this is a shining example of how homosexuals in California "tolerate" the free-speech rights of Christians who oppose their point of view. You'll recall that homosexual activists engage in demonstrations and protests far more aggressive than what this poor old woman did. Homosexual activists frequently pop up in the middle of Christian demonstrations, and one would be hard pressed to find an example of their signs being stomped, their persons being manhandled, and Christians screaming in their faces while signs are used to block the view of television cameras. It would appear that this sort of thing only goes on at homosexual demonstrations when attacking Christians who simply exercise their constitutional right to free speech. I would like to say that I'm shocked, but unfortunately I'm not. This is exactly the sort of thing I would expect a Christian to suffer within a homosexual demonstration. It fits the militant homosexual image well.

THE CATHOLIC KNIGHT: Since the election of Barack Obama and Joe Biden some information has surfaced from the international community that sheds new light on recent comments made by the Vice President Elect. After receiving an official intelligence briefing, Biden made the following comments at a Seattle campaign rally...

"Mark my words. It will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama like they did John Kennedy. The world is looking... Remember I said it standing here. if you don't remember anything else I said. Watch, we're gonna have an international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy. And he's gonna have to make some really tough -- I don't know what the decision's gonna be, but I promise you it will occur."

Then at a Democratic fundraiser he said the following...

“I can give you at least four or five scenarios from where it might originate, And he’s gonna need help. And the kind of help he’s gonna need is, he’s gonna need you - not financially to help him - we’re gonna need you to use your influence, your influence within the community, to stand with him. Because it’s not gonna be apparent initially, it’s not gonna be apparent that we’re right.”

Now that the election is over, ominous warnings have emerged from international officials. They seem to warn that a terrorist nuclear attack on the United States (or some other Western nation) is eminent in the very near future. (read the story here) If, God forbid, such an attack were to occur, a President Obama might feel compelled to enact executive orders allowing him to immediately seize control of all public institutions and private business. Such executive orders have already been put into place by President Bush to be used when the need arises...

(WorldNetDaily.com) President Bush has signed directive granting extraordinary powers to the office of the president in the event of a declared national emergency, apparently without congressional approval or oversight.

The "National Security and Homeland Security Presidential Directive" was signed May 9, notes Jerome R. Corsi in a WND column.

It was issued with the dual designation of NSPD-51, as a National Security Presidential Directive, and HSPD-20, as a Homeland Security Presidential Directive.

The directive establishes under the office of the president a new national continuity coordinator whose job is to make plans for "National Essential Functions" of all federal, state, local, territorial and tribal governments, as well as private sector organizations to continue functioning under the president's directives in the event of a national emergency...

The threat of an American dictator has not been seen since the American Civil War, when President Abraham Lincoln suspended habeas corpus and imprisoned Americans without filing charges against them, or even telling them why they were being arrested. Lincoln also imposed federal control of public and private institutions during the War. Even President Roosevelt, during World War II, did not implement such sweeping suspensions of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Could a future President Obama imitate his Civil War predecessor? The threat has been a real possibility every since President Bush signed NSPD-51 and HSPD-20 on May 9, 2007.

(NCR) - Cardinal Francis George, speaking this morning as president of the U.S. bishops’ conference, said all Americans should “rejoice” that a country which once tolerated slavery has elected an African-American as president – and, in the same breath, he issued a blunt challenge to the new administration on abortion.

“If the Supreme Court’s Dred Scott decision, that African Americans were other people’s property and somehow less than persons, were still settled constitutional law, Mr. Obama would not be President of the United States,” George said.

"Today, as was the case a hundred and fifty years ago, common ground cannot be found by destroying the common good," he said.

“The common good can never be adequately incarnated in any society when those waiting to be born can be legally killed at choice,” George said, drawing sustained applause from the bishops.

George said that while efforts to end racism and to promote economic justice are “pillars” of Catholic teaching, so too is opposition to abortion. His address drew a standing ovation from the bishops.

George’s comments, and the reaction from the floor, offered the first indication that the election of a pro-choice Democrat to the White House is unlikely to induce the bishops to soften their emphasis on abortion and other “life issues.”

George said that the election of Barak Obama represented, among other things, a “vindication” of those Catholic priests, religious, laity and bishops who worked against racism and on behalf of civil rights over the years in light of Catholic social doctrine.

Yet, George suggested, other aspects of the church’s social teaching – particularly its message on the defense of unborn life – have yet to be vindicated....

Thursday, November 6, 2008

THE CATHOLIC KNIGHT: If there is a lesson to be learned for the Democratic Party, it is to run more Pro-Life Democratic candidates. They do very well in elections, and beat Republicans easily...

(LifeNews.com) - Pro-abortion Democrat Barack Obama may have captured the presidency, but the pro-life group working within the party to change its pro-abortion position has a reason to celebrate. Democrats for Life of America backed several pro-life Democrats for Congress and five won their races Tuesday night.

"The pro-life Democratic Caucus will once again increase," Kristen Day, the director of the group told LifeNews.com.

"This will be only the second time in 30 years that the number of pro-life Democrats increases instead of decreases," the said. "The first time we made gains was in 2006 due to the work of pro-life Democrats all over this country advocating on behalf of the pro-life cause."

Twenty-six pro-life incumbent members of Congress kept their seats on Tuesday night. They will be joined by five other pro-life Democrats....

(WorldNetDaily) - ...This election may have prompted a turning point on the Catholic front. We had in Obama a pro-abortion presidential candidate set apart from Clinton or Kerry, who both expressed reticence about their abortion support – "safe, legal and rare," and all that.

Obama was confident, categorically supporting unfettered abortion for all nine months of pregnancy and beyond.

"I've been waiting 35 years to see vigorous, uncompromising statements from the bishops on abortion," Monica told me. "With this election, we had a concerted, bold speaking out of almost 100 of 300 U.S. bishops. There have been several bishops' documents going back 20 years or more. These are decent documents, but they can be interpreted in such a way by Catholics who want to justify a vote for a pro-abortion candidate. These bishops' statements sought to close those loopholes. They were saying nothing outweighs the killing of innocent human life by abortion."

Yet almost half of all Catholics still voted for Obama, indicating edicts alone won't work. Only consistent church teaching that breaks through deadened consciences on the horror of abortion in conjunction with education on the godly confines of sexual behavior will do.

Face it. It is the Christian church's fault that legalized abortion in America – and now infanticide – exists and persists.

THE CATHOLIC KNIGHT: Right now there is a lot of finger pointing going on in the Republican Party. Some of John Sidney McCain's advisors blame Sarah Palin for loss of the election. While Palin herself has dismissed this entirely, her supporters point back to McCain advisors as the cause of the problem. In his concession speech, McCain placed all blame upon himself. In the end, however, we have to admit that they're all wrong. Sure, John McCain's biggest handicap was John McCain, but there was a reason why he was the Republican choice for President. Sadly, John McCain's weak conservatism is a mirror refection of what the Republican Party has become in recent years. It was only natural for him to become the nominee, just as natural as it was for the Republicans to lose this election no matter who they put up against Barack Hussein Obama.

The problem however is much bigger than the Republican Party. In fact, the Republicans are only a small part of the problem. As Pope John Paul II pointed out repeatedly during his 27 year pontificate, the problem is the "culture of death" itself. It is a society that has plunged itself into this culture of death that embraces such things as legalized abortion, embryonic stem-cell research and euthanasia. More than half of all American voters willingly support this "culture of death" by their willingness to vote for candidates, and a party, that upholds it as their political standard. American society is lost, but the American Catholic Church can be revived, and with her the Evangelicals can see new life again too. The bishops and priests of the Catholic Church are where the "rubber meets the road" so to speak. They must preach the Gospel of Life BOLDLY in one Sunday homily after another, every Sunday, over and over again, until that is all faithful Catholics hear. They must do so repeatedly, until the message is burned into the psyche of every Catholic who attends mass in America. I mean the ENTIRE Gospel of Life starting from artificial contraception, to abortion, to embryonic stem-cell research, to euthanasia, and so on. Once they do this, the Evangelicals will follow too, and we can once again begin to build a culture of life.

What of the United States of America? Will we take back the Whitehouse and the Congress for Life over the next two to four years? Probably not. Will we take them back in eight years? Maybe, but by then it won't matter. In many ways it's already too late for the United States of America. She is guilty of murdering some 40 million innocent souls, and participating (even leading the charge) in the worst Holocaust the world has ever seen. The abortion Holocaust in America has killed far more souls than the Nazi Holocaust of Germany.

MENE, TEKEL, PERES. America's days are numbered. She has been weighed and found wanting. She will soon be divided.

Such is the fate of all nations that defy natural law and common sense. We can see signs of this all around; everything from a $10 trillion federal debt, to the nationalization of our banking system, to the erosion of our national borders, to the decay of our inner cities, to the corruption of our government, to the socialization of our economy, to the abridgment of our civl liberties, to the challenges we receive from foreign powers. It is the beginning of the end for the United States as we know it, but our people and our culture can survive, perhaps in some other form, if only our priests and pastors will lead the way. The ball now lies squarely in the Church's court. It failed to stop the fall of America, now will it be able to prepare it's people for her eminent demise, and then rebuild upon her ashes? Only time will tell.

(SFGate) - Prop. 8 would overturn the court's 4-3 ruling May 15 that declared same-sex couples had the right to marry under the California Constitution on the grounds of privacy and equal protection. Backers of the measure made the court a focus of their campaign, accusing "activist judges" of thwarting the will of voters who had approved a similar measure as an initiative statute in 2000.

Three lawsuits were filed directly with the state Supreme Court on Wednesday, seeking orders immediately blocking enforcement of Prop. 8 and ultimately striking it down as a violation of fundamental rights in the California Constitution.

The plaintiffs are six unmarried same-sex couples and the advocacy group Equality California; another couple who married shortly after the May 15 ruling took effect; and the cities of San Francisco and Los Angeles, joined by Santa Clara County.

Although their lawyers would not discuss their strategy publicly, each suit seeks to overturn Prop. 8 on the basis of state law and avoids federal constitutional claims that could send the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. Gay-rights advocates have tried to keep such disputes away from the nation's high court, out of fear that the justices would issue a nationwide ruling rejecting any right of same-sex marriage under the U.S. Constitution....

THE CATHOLIC KNIGHT: The people of California have spoken, homosexual marriage is officially abolished. However, as is typical in the People's Republic of California, the courts threaten to overturn the will of the people even in a state constitutional amendment. To be sure, so long as it stays within the California courts, this is California's problem. The California government hasn't represented the people of California in decades, and why the people haven't abolished the state government with a constitutional convention is beyond me. Alas, that is California's problem for Californians to deal with. However, I don't believe the lawyers advocating gay-marriage will keep it in California's courts at all. Just as soon as they fail to get the ruling they want from the California courts, they'll appeal it to the federal courts, and once that happens California's problem becomes America's problem.

Before the federal courts will be the question of whether or not the federal government can annul a state constitutional decision by the people of a state on the issue of gay-marriage. Should the federal courts rule against the people, every state constitutional ban on same-sex marriage within the nation will be at stake. The issue will be put before the United States Supreme Court in what will amount to a U.S. Constitutional crisis. At the feet of nine Supreme Court justices will lie the fate and future of the United States of America.

Should the U.S. Supreme Court decide to uphold a federal court's decision to strike down a state constitutional marriage ban, then gay-marriage will effectively be forced on every state in the Union by judicial fiat. What will that mean? It will mean that the United States government, via the federal court system, will be effectively waging an ALL OUT WAR on Christian civilization and the traditional family. It will place the United States federal government as the sworn enemy of every Catholic family and Catholic parish in the nation. The same would go for any Evangelical Christian family and congregation in this nation as well. The United States government would effectively be waging war against traditional Christianity itself.

At that point, there will be no more reason to preserve the U.S. Constitution, the federal government, or Union of the United States of America. For any government that wages war against it's own people, and the civilization they have created, is effectively a false government and has lost it's right to govern. The people of the United States would have only two options available to them at that time.

They can convince Congress to pass the 'Federal Marriage Amendment' (F.M.A.), so the states could immediately ratify it, and uphold their state bans on gay-marriage. Unfortunately, the people have recently elected officials to the U.S. government who have made it clear they have no intention of ever passing such an amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Both the new President-Elect, Barack Obama, and the Congressional Democrats, have made it clear that they support "gay-rights" and have no intention of doing anything that would stop gay-marriage from becoming the law of the land. If it never gets out of Congress, the states can never ratify it. So option number one is now next to impossible.

The people of states that ardently opposes gay-marriage can begin organizing and drafting measures for the secession of those states from the federal government and the United States of America. This of course would have to be done through the peaceful, democratic and lawful means outlined for us in the principles of the Declaration of Independence. Only by becoming free and independent countries can those states then uphold their own constitutions and the will of the people. After two or more of those states successfully secede using only peaceful, democratic and lawful means, then they can reorganize under whatever form of community, confederation or collective they see fit. Economically, such measures would be viable by restructuring tax laws in those newly born nation-states to attract business investment. The "Fair Tax" proposed by the 'Americans for Fair Taxation' (read more here) would be one possible way this could happen, and should prove more than enough to bolster the economic viability of newly born nation-states. Other measures of deregulation and free market reforms would also serve to make secession a financially attractive and profitable alternative. As for national defense of these nation-state, treaties could be signed with the United States government, allowing it to keep U.S. military bases within these nation-states free of rent or lease, provided the U.S. government pledge to defend these nation-states from all foreign aggressors. This would set the foundation for peaceful coexistence and fair-trade with states still choosing to stay within the United States of America.

Three IF's would cause these events to come about, and I might add that these three IF's are all real possibilities in the very near future, thanks to the aggressive tactics of lawyers pushing gay-marriage through the courts against the will of the American people.

IF the federal courts rule against a state constitutional measure banning gay-marriage, and...

IF the U.S. Supreme Court upholds that ruling, and...

IF the U.S. Congress will not pass the 'Federal Marriage Amendment'...

THEN the only way the people can defend their families and Christian civilization is to secede from the federal Union.

Otherwise, the only alternative is to accept the fall of Christianity within North America to a regime that favors and promotes homosexuality. In other words, the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. Congress would effectively make it the Christian duty of every God fearing believer in America to break all political ties with the United States government. Failure to do so would be failure to defend one's Christian faith against the external attack by a hostile and oppressive government. For the first time in American history, Christians would be forced to choose between their government and their faith. So you say you don't think it can happen. We can only hope. But I have a bad feeling it will. Just sit back and watch.

THE CATHOLIC KNIGHT: Credible sources are reporting that Pope Benedict XVI currently has a document on his desk which, when signed, will remove the excommunications of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre and the four bishops he consecrated in 1988, thus bringing the effective schism between the SSPX and the Vatican closer to an end.

As we move further into the pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI it becomes more apparent that the Holy Father seeks to reconcile the Church with her Traditionalist children as much as possible. Let us pray that this comes to pass - and quickly.

THE CATHOLIC KNIGHT: They're preaching another faith! They're preaching another Christ! It's a whole new religion, and it's NOT Catholicism. Their high position in government gives them a podium greater than most U.S. Catholic bishops. Because of that they have a large following - and it's growing! They call themselves Catholics, but they are apostles of the "culture of death."

How long must we endure the apostasy? Withholding communion is not enough. When will the the U.S. Catholic bishops FINALLY muster the courage to formally excommunicate these heretics who are leading the Catholic flock astray by the hundreds of thousands!?!

THE CATHOLIC KNIGHT: The folks at the Vatican have heard about U.S. Catholic Charity being used to donate money to ACORN, and they're not happy about it. The pope has dispatched a cardinal to "help" the U.S. Catholic bishops "understand" the proper use of charitable funds. I imagine a healthy lecture on the evils of "Liberation Theology" will accompany that, along with some probable "reorganization" of U.S. Catholic institutions. Can we say "woodshed?" We can only hope.

(CNA) -- Cardinal Paul Josef Cordes, president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, is scheduled to meet with U.S. bishops to speak about the need to maintain the Catholic identity of the charitable outreach of the Church.

The president of the council, who in effect oversees all of the Church’s charitable activities, will travel to the United States to meet with the bishops during their November 10-13 meeting in Baltimore....

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

AFTER you read the election results above, you can learn about the future of America here.

'The Catholic Knight' wishes to congratulate President-Elect Barack Hussein Obama on his historic victory. The anguish of a Pro-Life defeat is comforted in part by the knowledge that the United States has finally overcome the nemesis of racism - at least in part. Nothing can ever change the election results of this night. They will live forever in the annals of American history. For the first time ever, a non-white candidate was elected President of the United States. That is a momentous leap forward for our nation.

On the flip-side, something terrible has happened tonight. The cause for the sanctity of life was defeated, and not just defeated, but defeated mightily. Americans have chosen to plunge this nation deep into the "culture of death" by electing a man who has promised to sign the "Freedom of Choice Act" (F.O.C.A.). This is a bill, which if signed into law, would guarantee abortion throughout the entire United States, to anyone regardless of existing law, at the taxpayers expense if necessary, all the way through the ninth month of pregnancy. He has also promised to nominate Supreme Court Justices, and federal judges, that have a favorable view of Roe v. Wade, and would repel any legal challenge to it. For this our nation will certainly be punished.

Likewise, tonight Americans also elected a socialist - albeit a "Christian" socialist (read more here). The echoes of "Black Liberation Theology," which Obama adheres to, will soon be heard in the halls of the Whitehouse and the chambers of Congress. Taxes will rise and wealth will be "redistributed." It's almost a guarantee Obama's figure of $250,000, as an income threshold he promised he would not tax below, will not stand. Even in the days before his election, that number dropped to $200,000 then $150,000. (Anyone see a trend here?) As for healthcare, if American's think it's expensive now, they haven't seen anything yet - just wait until it's free! I'm only scratching the surface here. The United States has just taken a hard Left turn, and chances are it will probably never recover fully.

The ever increasing expansion of the federal government will only create more problems in the years ahead. I fear in four years we won't recognize our nation anymore. Even if Republicans manage to snatch a victory in 2012, they will not be able to undo the new entitlement programs put into place by President Obama and the Congressional Democrats. Those entitlement programs will be our national undoing eventually. By 2016 I fear state secession movements will enter the mainstream of political conversation. By 2020 a majority of Americans may even favor them in some regions of the Union. The ever expanding size of our federal government will eventually tear this nation apart, and I'm afraid the Republicans just lost their last opportunity to stop it from happening. The election of big-government Barack Obama may have been the first domino to fall in a long chain eventually resulting in the dissolution of the Union. (read more here)

As for now, 'The Catholic Knight' offers this prayer for our President-Elect...

THE CATHOLIC KNIGHT: Naturally this needs to be put into the whole context of the gospel message. Forgiveness is offered to those who confess mortal sins, and absolution will be given to anyone who is truly sorry, but make no mistake about it. If you vote for Obama (or any other pro-abortion politicians) and get hit by a bus walking home, you may not make it to the pearly gates. That's what the bishops have been telling us for months, and now one has come out and said it in the most plain English possible...

(LifeNews.com) - In one of the most far-reaching statements about Catholics and the presidential election, Bishop Robert Finn of Kansas City has urged Catholics not to vote for Barack Obama. Bishop Finn says Catholics who support him put their souls at risk by supporting Obama's "fanatical" stance on abortion.

The comments came in an interview with KCMO 710's Chris Stigall.

"There are Catholics listening to me right now who are thinking strongly or are convinced that they will vote for Barack Obama. What would you say to them?" Stigall asked the bishop.

"To vote for a person who has a fanatical determination to not only support abortion as it is now but to remove all limitations on it through the Freedom of Choice Act and to extend it without any recourse -- throwing out all of the efforts of citizens over the last 35 years to place reasonable limits on abortion," Bishop Finn explained.

"By voting for a person who has expressed his determination to do this to Planned Parenthood and NARAL -- you make yourself a participant in the act of abortion and you mustn't do it because your eternal salvation is tied up with that important choice," Bishop Finn said....

Saturday, November 1, 2008

THE CATHOLIC KNIGHT: Priests and bishops all over the United States have made it very clear. A vote for any Pro-Abortion candidate (including Barack Obama) is a MORTAL SIN when there is a more Pro-Life alternative available (like John McCain for example). Roman Catholics who choose partisan politics, over the Pro-Life teachings of the Church, effectively place themselves outside the Church and outside the sanctifying grace of God. Any Roman Catholic who does this must confess this as a mortal sin immediately to receive absolution. The bishops and priests of the Church have made it crystal clear in this election. There can be no doubt about it. No Roman Catholic can vote for Barack Obama, or any other Pro-Abortion candidate, and remain in good standing with the Church. Forgiveness is offered for those who confess this mortal sin, but it would be better not to commit it in the first place...

(National Catholic Register) - The 2008 presidential campaigns will end Nov. 4 when the nation votes. But they will have seen an unprecedented activity by one very small group of American leaders: Catholic bishops.

Most have shared the attitude of Bishop Larry Silva of Honolulu — that “one issue alone far outweighs all others: the right to life.”

In unusually strong language, bishops have denounced abortion and directed voters away from pro-abortion candidates — so much so that Americans United for Separation of Church and State has threatened to sue at least one bishop. According to USA Today, the group sent a letter to the Internal Revenue Service accusing Bishop Arthur Serratelli of Paterson, N.J., of illegal partisanship for lambasting Obama’s support of abortion rights.

With the election just days away, the Register offers its own compilation of some of the strongest statements.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops will discuss “the practical and pastoral implications of political support for abortion” at the bishops’ fall general assembly. But that will come after the election that pits a pro-abortion candidate, Barack Obama, against an anti-abortion candidate, John McCain....

Patroness Of This Blog

Our Lady of Fatima

THE CATHOLIC KNIGHT is an OPINION EDITORIAL Web Log (Blog) of one Catholic man based on religion, philosophy, politics, culture, news and current events. All written materials contained herein are the personal opinions of the blogger and those who comment. These should in no way be construed as official commentary from any Catholic diocese, parish or apostolate.

COPYRIGHT - All Rights Reserved.Materials and excerpts from this blog may be copied and distributed freely provided they remain unaltered and credit is given to "The Catholic Knight" blog with a hypertext link back to the original source page.